Electric time-switch.



PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906.

W. S. ANDREWS.

ELECTRIC TIME SWITCH.

APPLICATION nun DEO.15, 190a \t/plnesses over 8 ,These holes are dr' le UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SYMES ANDREW S.

OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEGIIRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. ETLECTRICI TIME-SWITCH- 4 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SYMES AN- mmws, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

M invention relates to time-switches or sim' arly-controlled devices, and comprises certaln improvements whereb the switch or other device ma be manua ly closed and after the expiration of a predetermined adjustable time interval may be automatically opened. The novel features which are characteristic of my invention I have pointed out with articularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, will be better understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which F1 re 1 shows mly improved time-switch in si e elevation. ig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch with the cover removed, while Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views representing in detail this switch-tripping mechanism.

My improved time-switch is particularly useful in connection with the control of electric circuits which are of such nature that the circuit when in use is closed only temporarily. Thus, for instance, for household purposes incandescent or other electric lights are equently used for illuminating basements, closets, pantries, or the like, in which case the light is only required for a short time.

After turning on such a light the operator through a lapse of memory very frequently fails to turn out the light. As a controlling devicefor circuits of this character my timeswitch is particularly valuable and convenient.

In Fig. 1 the time-switch is represented on the left-hand side of the drawings. Except for the operating-handle 1 the mechanism of the switch is concealedin the box-cover 2, secured to the base-plate 3. The operatinghandle is'provided with a ointer 4, moving aduated scale 5. t difl'erent points aroun the aduated scale holes'such as at 6, 7, 8, c..are drilled, into any one of which a stop or In 9 may be inserted. in the path of the pointer 4, so that the plug or stop 9 when in- Speciflcation of Letters Patent. Application filed December 16. 1908. Serial No. 186,292.

(Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.)

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

serted in any one of the holes serves to limit the movement of the pointer, and therefore the switch-handle. This switch-handle when turned from its zero position first closes a switch located, for example, in the circuit 10 l 11 of the incandescent light 12 and then winds a clock mechanism. When the switch arm or handle is released, the clock mechanism commences a return movement to its starting position. At about the time the starting position is reached the previouslyclosed switch is automatically tripped. The interval elapsing between the closing and the opening of the switch depends upon the angle through which the pointer 4 is rotated. The interval is therefore adjustable at the pleasure of the operator.

The handle 1 is mounted upon the squared end 13 of a shaft which projects through the top of the box 2. This shaft is the windingshaft of an ordinary clockwork mechanism. The main drivingspring of the clockwork mechanism is repre sented at 14. This spring is wound up in the usual manner and operates, through intermediate gears (represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) to run an ordinary escapement, such as at 1 5. The shaft 13 is turned to the right to wind up the clock mechanism and as the mechanism runs down slowly returns to its original position. In being wound up the shaft 13 causes the projecting arm 16 carried thereby to engage an arm 17 and by swinging one end of this around in the arc of a circle to cause a rotation of the shaft 18 through a corresponding angle. This result is produced because of the pivoted. connection between the arm 17 and an annular collar or sleeve mounted on the shaft 18, as will be better understood by reference to Fig. 4, in which the .arm 17 is shown as mounted on the pivot 27, secured shaft 18 in the annular collar or parallel to sleeve 17, which is rigidly locked to the shaft 18 by a set-screw 18. Immediately below this annular collar 17 and integral therewith is an irregularly-shaped flange 23, having on one side an abutment or notch 23, with which a pawl 22 engages for purposes hereinafter set forth. With the construction above described it will be understood that the move ment imparted to arm 17 by arm 16 will tend to produce rotation of the outer end of arm 17 about pivot 27, thus moving the inner end of arm 17 through a slot in the annular collar 17' (see Fig, 5) and bringing it up against shaft 18, so that it acts as a lever to cause rotation of that shaft. As this shaft 18 is rotated a switch blade 19 carried thereby is moved into engagement with the fixed contacts 20 and 21, constituting terminals of the circuit and 1 1. The circuit is thus closed. As this switch-arm moves into engagement with the contacts and 21 the spring-actuated pawl 22 snaps into position behind the wall or abutment 23, carried by shaft 18, and the leaf-spring 24, acting upon a cross-arm 25, carried b the shaft 18, tends to return the shaft to its original position, but is prevented from doing so by the pawl or detent 22, which in the closed position of the switch occupies the position shown in Fig. 4. After theswitch has been set the pointer 4 gradually returns to its original position and in doing so engages a projecting finger 26, forming a part of the pivoted member 17. This engagement causes said member to rotate about its pivot 27 and into engagement with a small upwardly-projectin pin 28 on the end of the pawl 22. The paw ,is thus forced out of engagement with the abutment 23, and thereby allows the shaft 18 to rotate and open the switch. Stops 29 and 30 are adapted to be engaged by a portion of the cross-arm 25 and servethus to limit-the rotation of the shaft 18. A sprlng 31, secured to the annular collar 17 tends to hold the-arm 17 in theposition indicated in Fig. 4, so that it .will be in proper position to receive arm 16 when that turned back by the clock mechanism.

Incases where it is'desired for any reason part is that the switch should be closed permanently the. clockwork may be locked from movement so that when once wound by the rotationof the switch-handle it will not unwind and return the switch-handle to its original-position;

A device'consisting of a cam 32' performs this function; This cam normally holds a spring33 out of en agement with the shaft 34 of .the balance-w eel. When the cam is turned, it allows this spring to press on :the shaft 34, and thus prevents rotation of the latter. The shaft 35 ofthe cam projects into -ar 1.opening in the cover 2 and is provided with a groove so as to-simulate a screw-head, as shown at 36. By turning the screw-head I so that the groove moves away from its up- ,anddown position the clockwork mechanism may :be locked. at will. This locking device possesses .the advantage that its purpose or even exlstence would not be suspected. by -a person unacquainted with the mechanism.-

uch a erson wouldbe unable to keep the switch 0 osed for .a longer time than that for which the .mechanism isadjusted, or, inother words, .would be unable to keep the h-t burning fora eater'len hof time. thant at indicatedby t eswitc-h- 'al. 1

What Lclaim as :new, and desire to secure bj Letters Patent of the United States, is

handle for winding the clock, means 0 erated by the-handle for closin said switc when themechanlsm 1s woun automatlc means for returning said handle to its original position, and means for tripping a switch when said handle returns to its original position.

22 The combination of a switch-arm, a

s ring for urging the arm in one direction, a

etent for holding the arm after it has been moved in opposition to said s ring, manually-operated means movable t ough a variable distance for closing said switch, and automatic means for opening said switch after an interval determined by the amount of movement of said manually-operate means.

- 3. The combination of an electric switch 'or other device to be controlled, aclockwork mechanism, a handle for simultaneously winding the clock mechanism and moving said switch or device in one direction, an

means controlled by the unwinding of said clock mechanism for moving said switchor device and said handle in the opposite direction.

4. The combination of an electric switch or other device. to be controlled, a clockwork mechanism, means for simultaneously winding the clockwork 'mechanism and moving sald switch or devicein one direction, an adjustable stop for limiting the motion of the .Windin means, and means controlled by the unwin ing of said clockwork mechanism for moving said switch or devicein the opposite direction.

5. In combination, a'pivoted switch-arm, a spring for urging said arm to 0 en position, a-c ockworkmechanism, ahan' e, operative connections between said handle and both said switch and said mechanism-whereby the movement of said handle positivelyshifts the switch-to closed-position in opposition to said spring and simu taneously winds said mechanism, a latch for holding the switchclosed,

and means controlled by the unwinding of said mechanism for tripping said latch .and for returning-said hand e to its original position.

'6. In combination, a pivoted switch-arm, a springzfor urging said arm-to-crllen position, a c ockwork mechanism, a ban e, operative connections between said handle .and both said switch and said mechanism whereby the movement of said handlejpositively shifts -'the switch to closed ositiommopposition to the spring and sim taneously winds the mechanism, said connections being arranged to disconnect said mechanism from said switch when the switch is closed, alatch for holding the switch closed, and means controlled by the-unwindi of said mechanism for tripping said latch an for returning said handle to its original position.

sauce v 8 7.111 combination, an electric switch, a by the unwinding of said clock mechanism 10 clockwork mechanism, a handle, operative for o ening said switch and returning said connections between said handle and both hand e to its original position. said switch and said mechanism whereby the In witness whereoi I have hereunto set my 5 movement of said handle closes the switch hand this 14th dag of December, 1903.

simultaneously and winds said mechanism, WILL SYMES- ANDREWS. said connections bem arranged to discon- Witnesses: nect said mechanism rom said switch when Y BENJAMIN B. HULL,

said switch is closed, and means controlled HELEN Ons oim. 

